Hand-truck.



C. S. CALHOUN.

HAND TRUCK. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1915.

Patented Feb. 8.159,16.

rnc unLUMnm vLANoGR/wn co., wAsmNGTom'm C4 and claimed.

CURTIS s. CALHOUN, or DEOATUR, ILLINOIS.

HAND-TRUCK.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it lmownthat I, CURTIS S. CALHOUN, a citizen of the United States yofAmerica, residing at Decature, in the county of Macon and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Hand-Truclrs, of which the following is aspecification. Y

The present invention relates to improvements in hand trucks, and isdesigned particularly .for the purpose of improving devices of thischaracter in several particulars, in order to facilitate the handling ofloads and especially heavy articles such as pianos, safes, dressers,etc.

The primary obj ect of the invention is to provide a hand truck havingfixed means thereon to facilitate in loading or unloading articles on tothe truck, and to provide forl a high or low gear in connection with thetruck, and to improve the const ruction of the handles, and theirrelation with the hand truck itself. l

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements ofparts as will hereinafter be more fullyV pointed out ln theaccompanyingv drawings have illustrated one complete example of thephysical embodiment of inyinvention constructed according to the bestmode I have so far devised for thepractical `*application of theprinciples 'of the invention.4

Figure 1 is a plan view of a truck embodying the novel features of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the truck resting upon theground or door. Fig. 3 is a section al view taken at the front of thetruck.` Fig. t is a perspective view of a device used in connection withthe truck for holding an article thereon.

ln the preferred embodiment of my in-` vention, as illustrated in thedrawings, I,

have shown a hand truck frame of standard variety converted for use withthe novel features of my invention, and it willgbe ,understood, ofcourse, that the invention is applicable for use with standard truckframes, or with specially constructed truck frames'.

The truck frame illustrated inthe drawing comprises a pair of side bars1-1, and several cross bars as 2 2, which are secured byvbolts 3 havingtheir heads countersunk in the usual metallic strip t placedupon the topof the side bars 1. At the front of the truck a plate 5 forms a platformbetween the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented rieb'. 8,1916.

Application mea February 27, 1915. i semaine. 10,935.

side r4bars and cross barand the usual ledge or retaining ilange "6 -isprovided at' the front end of the truck and extends transversely acrossthe frame.

At each side of the front endofthe frame I provide a quadrant shapedsegmental memthe braces are extended downwardly and attached to the pairof supplemental handles 14, which are also secured to the side bars 1.

Between the two heads? a spindle 15 is supported and extendstransversely of the truck, and 'this spindle supports av pair of rollersor wheelsl upon which the ,truckv may be moved about from place to'place.

These rollersl provided with rubber treads- 16 and ball bearings 16, areadaptedr to be located in two different positions vin the heads. In thedrawings I haveillustrated the rollers in position for low gear work ofthe truck, and .when it is desired to work the truck at a'high gear forconveying heavy articles, such as pianos, the spindle with its rollersis movedto the rear of the truck, and supported inthe holes 17 intheheads V7. In this position, at high gear, the truck will rest upon therollers at the front, and at the rearvwill be supported in the usuallegs 18 one at each side ofthe-truck. When the low gearposition ofthewheelsis used, the truck restsv solidly upon the heel `9 and the leg 18,as shown in Fig.f2.

,'At therextreme .front of the'truclr andy y,

above the rollers 16,1 provide an additional pair of rollers as-19,yjournaledA on the' spindle 20,V supportedinY the heads 7 Atransverselyofthe truck, and these supplemental rollers, as will be seenfin Figs. V3and 4f, have their peripheries projecting slightly beyond `the surfaceofthe nose 8 ofthe head 7. rvThese vsupplemental rollers are especiallyuseful when the operator is `:manipulating the truck 'in' order to getthe ledge 6 under a pair of adjustable handles as 2l-2l. These handlesare preferably of Wrought iron, and provided with a hand grasp 22, andare pivoted by a bolt 23 each to the outside of its side bar 1. `Eachhandle is provided with a series of openings 24 arranged in an arc of acircle with the pivot 23 as a center, and the bolt or set screw 25 isadapted to secure the handle 23 in adjusted position by utilizing one ofthese openings 24. Thus, with the bolt 25 removed, the handle may beturned upon the bolt 23 as a pivot to adjust the hand grasp 22 eitherabove or below the side bar l, and then the set'screw or bolt 25 may beused to secure the handle rigidly to the side bar. rlhis adjustablehandle especially adapts the hand truck: for manipulation by diierentsized men, as it will readily be seen that the handle may be turned downinrFig. 2, to adapt it to a short man, and may remain either in itspresent position or be turned up to adapt it for a taller man.

In connection with the truck, I have illustrated a device which isespecially applicable for holding articles while loading or unloadingthe truck. This device comprises a detachable hook 26 adapted to engageover either of the cross bars 2, and this hook has pivoted thereto arack bar 27 In connection with the rack bar 27, I employ a second hook28 which is slotted at 29 to slide over the rack bar 27, and a tongue 30is adapted to engage one of the teeth on the rack bar 27. In dottedlines, Fig. 2, the use of this hook is illustrated, and it will readilybe understood that this contrivance assists in holding the articles onthe hand truck.

In the dotted position A, in Fig. 2, the truck is represented as restingupon the curved nose S of the head, and in dotted position B, the truckis represented as rest'- ing upon'the rollers 16. In the latterposition, of course,'the truck is supported by hand, and is beingVrolled over the ground to transport or transfer an article. When thetruck is rocked from the roller ofposition B, on to the nose, as inposition A, an article may be unloaded therefrom. When the truck isbeing rolled on its wheels it will readily be understood that bydropping the rear end l,the heel 9will `contact with the ground, andwork as a brake. The handles 14C are especially useful when, lifting thetruck to vertical position in order to push the ledge 6 under the nosefrom the box in loading, or in withdrawing the nose from the box inunloading. The nose 8 may also be used as a brake to rest the truckagainst accidental movement, by turning the truck to position A, in Fig.2.

The curved handles 22 are particularly useful when the truck is used onan uneven or irregular floor, as the hands may be slipped up or down on.the curved handgrasp to adapt the hand-hold to the changed position ofthe truck.

One of the meritorious features of the truck is Athe facility with whichit can be placed in vertical position against the back of a pianopreparatory to pulling backward on the handles, and then the loadedtruck may be rolled backward on the runners or curved heads to thewheels, or to flat position in Fig. 2, to make repairs, put in casters,etc. The weight of the article assists in loading or unloading after thetruck is tilted forward or backward in moving from wheels to heads orvice versa.

Numerous other meritorious features and advantages could be pointed out,but these will all be appreciated by the operatoi` of the truck, andwhen he becomes familiar with the same, will nd that the device is agreat labor saving contrivance, and a powerful aid in handlingfurniture, boxes, pianos, etc.

F romthe above description taken in connection with my drawings, it isapparent that I have provided a device which will enable an operator toperform laborious work with skill and despatch, and with the expenditureof only a usual exertion on his art.

vVhat I claim is:

The combination in a hand truck with its frame of a pair of spacedquadrant shaped members each having a fiat horizontal heel at the end ofits curved portion, of a spindle connecting said members and rollers onthe spindle ournaled between said members forward of the flat heel, anda. pair of supplemental rollers located at the upper end of the curvedportion of said members.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature .in presence of two witnesses.

CURTIS S. CALHOUN. lVitnesses:

W. J. Dickinson, IVAN C. BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

. Washington, D. C.

